Report of pedestrian with knife prompts lockdown at schools

MONTICELLO — Monticello students were held after hours Thursday after a school employee reported seeing someone with a knife outside of one of the schools in town.

Authorities received a call from the principal of Sacred Heart School in Monticello, reporting two men dressed in black clothing had been spotted walking south past the school along North Maple Street, the Monticello Police Department said in a news release. It also was reported one of the men had a large knife contained in a sheath strapped to his belt, police said.

The men first were seen by students during a supervised recess, and the students reported it to a school associate, police said.

In response to the report, all Monticello Community School District buildings were placed on lockdown and officers were dispatched to the area.

Monticello Superintendent Chris Anderson said no one was allowed in or out of school buildings while police searched the area, adding that after this week's mass stabbings at a high school in Pennsylvania, they weren't going to take any chances.

Although school doors normally are locked during the day, an officer was present at each building when students eventually were dismissed, Anderson said.

Police initially were unable to find anyone in the area, but an officer at Central Middle School later saw two subjects matching the description provided — with a knife — walking down Elm Street.

Both men were taken into custody without incident, police said. One of the men later was released because he didn't possess a weapon. The second, a minor, was in possession of two knives and charges are pending for going armed with a dangerous weapon, police said.

Monticello police said no direct threats were made to staff or students.

Though the incident remains under investigation, police said a preliminary investigation indicates the minor did not intend to pose a threat or cause concern.